Stuffed toys filled with ketamine arrive in Perth on Christmas, leading to jail time for Italian national

A 27-year-old Italian national living in Perth will serve 18 months in prison after the hidden contents of stuffed toys, placed inside a box gift-wrapped in festive paper, were discovered by Border Force officers on Christmas Day.

About 1.5kg of high-purity ketamine was found inside the selection of soft toys resembling Santa, an elf, an angel and a wise man, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Thursday.

The package sent from Spain via air cargo was intercepted by the Border Force, which alerted the AFP, which said it then replaced “the illicit drugs with a harmless substance.”

“The package was released for delivery on January 4, 2024 and taken to a residence in Coogee,” the AFP said.

A search warrant was executed at the house in Coogee, in the southern coastal suburbs of Perth, later that day and the 27-year-old man was arrested at the property and charged with attempting to traffic in a controlled drug.

“Officers found the package open on a table, with the substituted drugs removed from some of the soft toys,” AFP said.

“One bag of the substituted drugs was located on a set of scales, near a vacuum sealing machine.”

The 27-year-old man who has been in custody since January 4 was sentenced by the Perth District Court on Tuesday, and will be released on a good behaviour recognisance order after he serves 18 months in custody.

AFP Detective Inspector Matt Taylor warned the public not to attempt similar drug smuggling operations as we head towards the festive season.

“As we approach one of the busiest periods of the year for incoming mail and air cargo, let this be a warning to those who think they can smuggle illicit substances through — our ABF officers are always watching,” he said.

“While some air mail imports may seem like relatively small amounts of illicit substances, any amount can cause significant harm.

“Illegal ketamine can be quite dangerous – people using it will not know how it was made, what strength it is or what else it has been mixed with.

“The dissociative effects block sensory brain signals, and it can cause memory loss, make people feel detached from reality and prevent their ability to perceive danger. Effects can range from nausea and vomiting to rapid heartbeat and seizures.”